CG SubMain Menu

CG SubMain Menu 2

Basketball brawl could impact Vikings’ postseason

The Cape team stands together for the national anthem, but a train’s a-coming. DAVE FREDERICK PHOTOS

Dave Frederick

February 23, 2018

Chaos chased control as Cape players battled fans.

Entropy is a scientific concept derived from thermodynamics. It refers to the idea that everything in the universe is moving from order to disorder, that nature is in a slow and steady state of disintegration.

Systems constructed by humans – for example, high school playoff basketball games contested in front of raucous and partisan fans, all perched on top of one another – always have a chance to devolve into chaos.

At Milford’s Central Academy Feb. 22, the contest between Smyrna and Cape to determine the Northern Division champion tipped off at 7 p.m. and was cut off with 4:02 remaining in the game.

Fans behind the the Cape bench, showing no respect for the game, were taunting Cape players. The police were made aware on two occasions, but no one was removed. The situation simmered until the pot boiled and popped the lid.

There was the street clothes crowd versus Cape players; the Smyrna team stayed safely down the other end of the gym. And there were videos taken and photos snapped. The Vikings, trailing 61-34, were sent to the locker room, and the game declared over and done.

On Friday, Feb. 23, Cape and Smyrna will meet with officials of both the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Henlopen Conference to determine what disciplinary penalties, such as suspensions or postseason disqualifications of players, if any, will be handed down.

The school district reserves the right to hand down its own penalties. And at Cape, the head coach is given the authority to go over and above DIAA and the district.

A decision is expected late Friday afternoon. Cape is positioned to be the No. 1 seed in the state tournament followed by Sallies, Smyrna and William Penn.